Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's endemic corals -- such as Acropora suharsonoi -- need to be protected from bleaching caused by global warming, a researcher from the Oceanographic Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has said.
"The distribution of the species is narrow. Hence, it must be protected properly," Suharsono said when contacted by ANTARA here on Friday.
The corals -- discovered by him in 1995 -- live at a depth of more than five meters and are one of the mascots for the 2021 National Flower and Animal Love Day (HCPSN).
However, due to their small number and limited distribution, Acropora suharsonoi need to be protected to prevent them from extinction, Suharsono said.
The coral species is only found in the waters around the Bali Islands -- especially northern Bali – and the Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara, especially at Kodek Bay, North Lombok which has become a crossing area to and from Gili Trawangan Port, he informed.
In addition, according to Suharsono, the water ecosystem is also vulnerable to bleaching due to a rise in sea temperature as a result of global warming, which can also threaten the survival of corals.
Hence, he said, endemic species need to be monitored regularly, for instance, once every few years, to ensure their conditions and sustainability.
Thus, the establishment of marine conservation areas in Gili Trawangan is expected to be able to preserve and protect the endemic species, he added.
Furthermore, he said he hoped that conservation attempts are carried out properly so that the presence of Acropora suharsonoi in the area can be maintained.
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